Just as with a magazine I’d edit, all through the year I think about what events or feelings should go into the annual Christmas letter. (Um, by the way, this blog and emails are it. Can’t afford sending letters this year by snail mail.) This has been my annus horribilis, a horrible year. Perhaps for this letter I should have tried writing fiction for the first time ever. But instead, I’ll just skim over the negative and end up with the real joy that I’ve discovered.
Last winter, I had a severe bout of cellulitis in my left leg, requiring both outpatient treatment and hospitalization. There was a huge load of stress at work, mostly caused by the boss, so there was nothing to do in this economy but accept the treatment until he laid me off (with one-third of the other employees) in June. Their donations from publications and the website dropped precipitously when I left. We were told we’d be able to collect unemployment compensation, but because of legal issues between the employer and the state, it wasn't possible. I’ve existed on savings from the vacation I did not take in 2008, plus a savings account for emergencies (such as this one). The up-and-down hopes and appeals for compensation have torn me to bits. That’s not good when one has no health insurance. I have several wonderful friends who are losing homes, and have had deaths in their family, or had to move and start their lives over. I’ve never cried as often for what we’ve experienced as this year. Finance is not the worst of it. But it certainly ranks up there! (Or would that be down there?)
The unemployment rate in this area of southern 
Not being “underwater” on the mortgage, I’ll make a small profit if the house sells within a month or two, and it’s quite likely to do so. Moving means severing ties and saying goodbye to people, places, and experiences, but it's also "shalom" to follow what I believe is God's directive. This is a new life I'm entering.
The preceding paragraphs are an abridged/condensed/compacted version of the annus horribilis, and there’s a detailed, not-sweet story behind everything. But now on to the good stuff!
1. January - Took new scarf back to store because it was too tight.
2. February - Fired from pharmacy job for failing to print labels... “duh”...bottles won't fit in typewriter!
3. March - Got excited...finished jigsaw puzzle in 6 months...box said “2-4 years!”
4. April - Trapped on escalator for hours...power went out!
5. May - Tried to make Kool-Aid...8 cups of water won't fit into those little packets!
6. June - Tried to go water skiing...couldn't find a lake with a slope.
7. July - Lost breast stroke swimming competition...learned later, other swimmers cheated—they used their arms!
8. August - Got locked out of car in rain storm...car swamped, because top was down.
9. September - The capital of
10. October - Hate M&Ms...they are so hard to peel.
11. November - Baked turkey for 4 ½ days...instructions said 1 hour per pound and I weigh 108!
12. December - Couldn't call 911... “duh”...there's no “eleven” button on the phone!
Wow, do I ever feel blonde. Luckily for me, my blonde is from a custom paste carefully applied by Gina, my stylist. When my head is covered in aluminum foil, I can block dogmatic political commentary—and see
Actually, in spite of all the trouble of 2009, there were some amazing, inspiring times. The daily devotional book that I developed, edited, wrote much of, and self-published in 2005, was accepted (with kudos) by Review & Herald Publishing for hardcover in 2010, as I learned one week before my layoff. It's written non-denominationally, so all of you will enjoy it without feeling preached at. For those of you who contributed essays to the book, YAY for you, too! I wrote about 92 original essays and rewrote many others, Laura wrote about 30, and Lorelei was right behind her. Although 95% of my editing and writing were done at home on evenings and weekends, there will be no royalties, as I did it under the aegis of my former employer. Just last week, I spent 12 hours on final edits. My name will be on the cover and is on the Library of Congress card!!! That’s right. “Robinson, Christy K., 1958– .” (Blimey, if certain people had their way, there would be a closing date.) Scores of articles like the ones in the book are posted here on this blog. If you like the site, bookmark it! Later in the year, when the book is available, I'll place a link to a bookstore on this blog.
My mother’s three siblings, with whom I’d had extremely limited contact after she died in 1993, had a reunion at the
There were other friendships established this year, that have been life-changing for me. Other relationships deepened as we shared our joys and troubles by phone and email. I visited
I thank God for your caring attitude and actions. May you enjoy this Christmas season with family, good friends, good health, and a warm heart. And may that feeling carry you through next year’s ups and downs with the assurance that you are never alone—not with that divine whisper in your heart, and not with me praying blessings for you!
XXXOOO,
Christy K. Robinson
Evie (dog),
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